02-14-2021, 11:26 AM
(02-14-2021, 10:27 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: If memory serves, Dallas got all the way to #2 in the league in D-Rating for like a day. You are correct to identify KP's return (and COVID) as among the reasons that changed. Here is where we are with our Centers based on data from pbstats.com
Powell's D-Rating On is 107.76 and his D-Rating Off is 118.11. The issue this season has been what happens to the O when Powell is on the floor. O-Rating On is 109.35 vs. O-Rating Off of 114.62.
KP is the opposite. His D-Rating On is 124.77 (a huge outlier compared to the rest of his career). His D-Rating Off is 110.75. The offensive end is positive (116.68 On vs. 112.26 Off), but it doesn't (yet) make up for the defensive deficiencies.
Willie is net positive both defensively and offensively. D = 110.59 On and 118.64 Off. O = 117.48 On and 112.07 Off (the O On number is a huge outlier compared to the rest of his career).
Going through the rest of the lineup, here are the net D-Ratings:
Maxi +2.73 (his O number is +2.46)
JRich -9.16 (his O number is +4.81)
DFS -4.25 (his O number is +7.32)
JB +4.34 (his O number is is -5.5...playing when Luka sits "might" impact this)
THJ -4.31 (his O number is +4.46)
Luka -2.02 (his O number is +13.15. We might want to keep him despite his D)
BTW, as you might imagine, Green and Iwundu's D numbers are positive (but the O dies when they play). Burke and Johnson are negatives at both ends of the floor (though Johnson is close to neutral defensively, but awful offensively).
Note this is all fairly small sample sizes with a good portion of the season impacted by COVID and KP's slow return. Who you get to play with has a HUGE impact on these numbers. Turns out Dwight wasn't as "unplayable" as some made out early in the season...at least defensively. In the same way that Luka makes one dimensional offensive players look like net positives, something is dragging down the defensive numbers. Interestingly, guys with some of the best defensive reputations (KP, DFS and JRich) are showing some of the worst defensive net numbers. IMHO it is too early to judge as all three of those guys have very good reasons to not be 100% yet. As I posted yesterday, the O in February has been unbelievably good. The question is whether we can get some defensive swagger back.
Re: Powell - I have stated, as the former vice president of the Dwight Powell Haters Club, that he has been a very pleasant surprise since Covid. Looking far more like himself than before quarantine, and playing his ass off. My only issue with him right now is that I still think he's paid too much for what he brings.